Sept. 22, 2005 -
The match started much too late and ended much too soon for Lipscomb's Lady Bisons.

Tuesday night's match with UNC-Asheville, the first on the home court at Allen Arena since Aug. 27th, was delayed 45 minutes when one of the game officials was stuck in traffic due to a diesel spill on I-24's Monteagle Mountain.

When the action did begin the Lady Bisons were on the wrong end of a 3-0 match loss by score of 30-27, 30-25 and 30-24.

"We didn't come out with the usual fire and the usual fight," said Lipscomb Coach Brandon Rosenthal. "We really put ourselves in a hole. For the first time this year I didn't see my girls respond as a team even though some individuals did respond."

The Lady Bisons trailed 29-25 in game one but refused to give up the game point easily. They cut the lead to 29-27 before UNC-Asheville iced the game.

In game two UNC-Asheville jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but the Lady Bisons scrambled back to tie the game at 6-6 and take an 8-7 lead. UNC-Asheville retook the lead at 10-9 and never gave it back. UNC-Asheville's biggest lead was eight points at 20-12. Again, facing the game point at 29-22, the Lady Bisons hung tough once again cutting the lead to 29-25 before losing.

"If you are down at game point by more than three or four points it is tough," Rosenthal said. "There is a desperation that you don't have anything to lose. Unfortunately, I think we played (in the game-point situations) like we should have played the whole game."

The Lady Bisons held the early edge in game three holding a 7-6 advantage before UNC-Asheville took control. UNC-Asheville led by as many as 11 points (23-12).

"We fought an uphill battle," Rosenthal said. "It's difficult when you put yourself in a situation where you are playing behind. But some good things came out of it."

"I thought Jess Turner had a decent game hitting-wise," Rosenthal said. "She is coming into her own and playing with a little more confidence."

Elif Unlu led UNC-Asheville with 13 kills. Krysti Havens led with 22 digs. Talia Ogle was credited with 18.

"It's just a matter of playing with a little more confidence and realizing they can play with whomever they step in against," Rosenthal said. "The crowd was great. The `Rowdies' were out. This is a tough lesson, but it is a good lesson for us. It's a wake-up call for us. We're not done."